1 Response to madrid25ruud_draper

1. Voo de Mar says:

   May 4, 2025 at 8:26 pm

   Points won by each set: | 37-32, 21-32, 41-35 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   22 % Ruud – 23 of 104
   18 % Draper – 17 of 97

   27-year-old Ruud [15] has been one of the best clay-court player of this decade, yet despite of reaching the French Open final twice, he hadn’t won a Masters 1K title until Madrid. The long awaited biggest title of his career is fully deserved because he advanced to the final overcoming a few players he had a negative record against: Medvedev (0:3), Cerundolo (3:5). In the final he faced three years younger Draper [6] who has already one Masters 1K title, and it helped the Brit in the initial phase. Ruud seemed to be tense, lost his serve 1-all committing two double faults in a row. It didn’t discourage him to risk his second serve afterwards (174 kph on average!). Draper failed to serve the set out at 5:4 (30-all); in another service game, facing a set point he misjudged Ruud’s accidental return-lob – instead of hitting an overhead, Draper allowed the ball to drop in the corner, and made a forehand error. He was very frustrated because of that point, but regrouped in the 2nd set, establishing his dominance again. Draper held after six deuces to lead 2:1 in the 3rd set, but that game cost him a lot of energy, and the fresher Norwegian got the deciding break at 2-all (having saved two break points in the preceding game). Ruud didn’t blink serving for the biggest title of his career, four short points based on big serving and powerful forehands made him the new champion of the biggest Spanish tournament. “It feels great, of course. It’s been a long time coming,” said Ruud. “[This was] one of the really big goals I dreamed about when I was young, so it’s an incredible feeling to accomplish it. Also the way I did it today, it was a great match. I knew Jack had been playing unbelievable all year, and especially in this tournament, so I knew that if I didn’t bring my A-plus game, I was going to be whooped around the court.”

   Ruud’s route to his 13th title (1st Masters 1K):
   2 Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4
   3 Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-3
   4 Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4
   Q Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-5
   S Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-5
   W Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4

   Serve & volley: Ruud 1/1, Draper 4/6

   Ruud’s first meeting against Korda, their fathers met once (Key Biscayne ’99): Christian Ruud d. Petr Korda 6-2, 7-6

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